Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JUNE 12th., 1936. MANUKAU’S MEMBER.

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 June 1936, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JUNE 12th., 1936. MANUKAU’S MEMBER.

’THE High Commissioner Elect, 1 Mr. AV. J. Jordan, ALP. for Manukau, has good cause to look back upon his career with pardonable pride. From a coach-painter’s apprentice to be New Zealand’s chief representative in Britain, is a modern administrative romance, and all will hope that Air. Jordan will prove a success in his new high office. He left his native England 32 years ago, having been London postipan and policeman, and on arrival in New Zealand engaged in farming first, and later, opened business in Wellington and Hie Waikato. W/hen the Great War broke out, he was one of the first to volunteer. and was severely wounded in France. His first Parliamentary venture in 1919 was a failure, but he defeated the then Speaker of the House, for the Manukau seat, at the 1922 general elections, and has since been re-elected with satisfactory majorities.

Mr. Jordan will leave for Geneva early next month to represent the Dominion on the Assembly of the League of Nations. He will probably receive early advancement, as at the forthcoming election of non-permanent members of the League Council, New Zealand’s e chance of securing one scat is regarded as excellent. Air. Jordan does not succeed to the Ifigh Commissionership until the end of the year, when Sir J. Parr’s term of' office expires. By that time, Mr.

Jordan should have acquired by personal contact and otherwise, valuable; information helping him to uphold New Zealand’s interests and prestige. He will have a busier time than usual, owing to the Coronation. and although Mr. Savage will be in London to relieve hin.’ of some of the responsibility and glamour, it will be realised that

severe tests await Mr. Jordan. There is no reason to think that he will prove unequal to the task. The question of finance has to be faced. Most of his predecessors have stated that the salary of the High Commissioner did not cover the expenses of the office. Mr. Jordan is unlikely.to indulge in extravagant display, but he should not be handicapped by inadequate remuneration. Mr. Savage will have the support of public opinion in the Dominion, if he makes any desirable re-adjustments of London allowances.

Amidst all the general expressions of goodwill aroused by the forthcoming departure of Mr. Jordan, there will be one criticism. That is in connection with the reported decision to permit him to continue as Member for Manukau, until he assumes the High Com-

missionership. a matter ol six months. The reason given is that being a member of the Dominion Legislature will give him improved status at Geneva. It is doubtful if League circles are so easily impressed, but in any case, his status as New Zealand’s representative is adequate in itself. Meanwhile, Manukau is to be practically disenfranchised for six months. Presumably the Parliamentary honorarium will continue to be paid to Mr. Jordan, and consideration for him is being exercised at the expense of another, whoever is destined to be Manukau’s next Parliamentary representative. It is by no means certain that Labour will retain the seat, and in any case, a by-election at this stage would provide an opportunity to reveal electors’ feeling towards the Labour Government and its policy as demonstrated since last November. What a howl of indignation would have come from Labour had the Coalition Ministry attempted to do what Labour proposes regarding Manukau! Was there not much talk of “ideals” from Labour leaders, a few months ago?